Solheim to give up Sri Lanka role

Solheim to give up Sri Lanka role

Mr Solheim at last month's Geneva talks

Norway's peace envoy to Sri Lanka, Erik Solheim, has announced that he will soon give up the job.

Mr Solheim told journalists in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, that he wanted to concentrate more on his job as overseas development minister.

Mr Solheim has played a central role in moves to resolve Sri Lanka's civil war.

Last month he brokered the first face-to-face talks between the government and the Tamil Tiger rebels in three years.

'Above expectations'

At the end of those talks, in Geneva, the Sri Lankan government and the Tigers agreed to curb violence and renew talks in April on their fragile truce.

Mr Solheim described that at the time, as an outcome "above expectations".

Mr Solheim denied that his decision to step down as mediator was as a result of criticism of his role from Sri Lanka.

He said he would hand over to his successor before the second round of talks. The name of his successor has not been announced.

Meanwhile, the Norwegian ambassador in Sri Lanka, Hans Brattskar, is in the north of the island today to meet the head of the Tigers' political wing, SP Thamilselvan.

BBC London